Hello everyone, I am newcomer Cai Wenbin CyberBin.
The free version of ChatGPT's quota is simply not enough. Not to mention entering Codex without a membership; you'll be shut out directly.
Previously, Lonely@Lonely__MH [Stop paying taxes to proxies! Domestic UnionPay card + 86 mobile number, full process tested 50% off ChatGPT Plus subscription] already had a post about how to register, and it was written in great detail. I also successfully registered based on his guide.
However, during the registration process, there were some unexpected situations, so I'm trying to explain everything in one post to help everyone avoid pitfalls and complete the full path smoothly.
No more nonsense, let's get straight to the point.
Reminder ⏰: Please set aside enough time before starting. I estimate it will take about 2 hours from registration to the final membership purchase. It's best not to stop in the middle, as changes in settings might cause various issues.
🍎 Step 1: Register Apple ID
(1) Register a domestic one first ➡️ After successful registration, click the avatar to switch to Turkey.
Actually, you don't need to switch to a Turkish ID immediately because you won't pass the authentication without a Turkish mobile number. So, start by registering a domestic +86 account.
This process is best done on a mobile phone 📱 ➡️ Log out of your ID (full logout, including the App Store) ➡️ "Find My iPhone" must be turned off ➡️ Other phone settings don't matter; I used a Chinese interface and didn't turn off the VPN.
Preparation: iPhone, QQ email (one that hasn't been used for an Apple ID), mobile number (preferably one not linked to an ID; although one number can link to multiple IDs, it's better to use an uncommon one to avoid trouble later).
Registration is simple: as shown below ⬇️
No Apple account ➡️ Fill in email ➡️ Fill in mobile number (no obstacles encountered here).
If you encounter problems 🙋, feel free to leave a comment. I'll help you troubleshoot.
🍎 Step 2: After successfully registering the domestic account
Go to "Settings" → Avatar → "Media & Purchases" → "View Account" → "Country/Region" → Change to Turkey.
Here comes the pitfall: you might encounter this here
With this, you've finished half the journey! You're almost there ✅, just hang in there... 😊
✊ Step 3: Buy Turkish iTunes Gift Cards on MTCGAME
Steps:
Open https://www.mtcgame.com/zh/apple-store/itunes-hediye-karti
Select the ₺500 denomination (approx. ¥82), add to cart, register an account, and check out.
I find this site reliable because there are no pop-ups when opening it in WeChat. Secondly, you don't even need to register; just fill in your email and bank card info to buy directly. It's very convenient.
Select UnionPay as the payment method.
Another pitfall: you might find your debit card rejected ❌. My first attempt with a China Merchants Bank debit card failed. Switching to a credit card worked.
Try it first; if you have issues 🙋, leave a comment.
After successful payment, you'll reach this screen. Now go to the email address you entered and find your key.
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Enter the code after the "=" sign; do not include the equals sign itself. 😮💨
🍎 Final Step: Top up the Turkish Apple ID
- Open the App Store, click the avatar in the top right
- Find "Redeem Code"
- Manually enter the PIN and confirm
📷
Provide a caption (optional)
😭 This is the real final step: Subscribe to ChatGPT Plus
1. You might face a few issues here:
When re-downloading the ChatGPT App, it might not download easily. Don't worry; close the software and try a few more times (I had an issue where it wouldn't download while I was on a voice call; it worked once I hung up).
- Long press the ChatGPT icon → "Remove App"
- Confirm the App Store avatar is the Turkish ID
- Search for ChatGPT again, download and install
- Log in with Apple ID
📷
Provide a caption (optional)
Another interlude: When logging in here, it must be the Apple ID you just registered. Do not use other login methods.
📷
Appendix: How to open Codex
Fill in the registered Apple ID ⬇️
Fill in the registered Apple ID ⬆️ Fill in the mobile verification code ⬇️
🎉 Congratulations, you succeeded! 🏅
FAQ Summary
Q: What if UnionPay payment fails? Use a credit card. If that still doesn't work, you can buy Turkish gift cards on Xianyu, though there might be a service fee.
Q: Why not buy from the US region? The US region costs $20/month, while the Turkish region is about 80 RMB. With current tool iterations, there's no need for annual payments or going straight to Pro unless you're a high-end user.
Let me know in the comments what problems you encountered while learning about Codex, and I'll prioritize those in future content! If this tutorial helped, please Like + Bookmark + Forward 👏🏻
I am Cai Wenbin CyberBin @Xuhuicai888. Follow me for continuous updates on AI efficiency tutorials to help you master AI tools and avoid 90% of beginner mistakes.
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